These pictures are of the many sad memorials erected by friends & family to honor murder and other violence victims in the Washington DC area. These spontaneous, homemade, heartfelt creations are found on streets throughout the region. They are often the only physical tribute to the many slaying victims.
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Monday, January 31, 2011

From DC police reports: On Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at approximately 11:00 pm, units from the Fifth District responded to the intersection of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC, for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Prior to their arrival a First District Unit was flagged down by a citizen and advised of a shooting victim on this corner. DC Fire and EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.The decedent is identified as William Mitchel, 33, of Northwest DC.

The Washington Post reports that he may have been killed while assisting someone else in trouble, and refers to him as a "Good Samaritan."

This memorial is nearly in sight with the US Capitol Dome, less than a mile away.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

There is a display of flowers and other items on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington DC, in honor of, and conveying healing prayers for, the victims of the mass shooting attack on January 8, 2011 in Tucson, Arizona.

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head by an assailant, and, blessedly, continues to recover from her potentially fatal wound. From Wikipedia:Six people were killed in the attack. They include: Christina-Taylor Green, 9; Dorothy "Dot" Morris, 76; John Roll, 63, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for Arizona; Phyllis Schneck, 79; Dorwan Stoddard, 76; and Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman, 30, community outreach director for Rep. Giffords.

Thirteen people were wounded in the attack; a fourteenth person was determined not to have been injured by gunfire. Gabrielle Giffords and two other members of her staff were among the surviving gunshot victims.

From press reports: A man was shot and killed late Saturday January 8, 2011, in Prince Georges County's second homicide of the day. That killing was the ninth reported in the county since the New Year began. Police identified the victim of the late Saturday killing as Corteza Warren Livingston, 21, of the 3100 block of Dynasty Drive in the Forestville area. Livingston was found with a gunshot wound on the block where he lived. It was not clear Sunday whether the shooting occurred in his home. Police said a 24-year-old man, who also was apparently shot in the same incident, was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Police said they think the incident stemmed from a personal dispute. Officers said they were searching for suspects and trying to determine a motive.

I was a bit surprised to find a spent bullet shell casing just a few feet from the crime scene tape. I promptly reported it to PG police's homicide unit, who were appreciative, and said they would soon send a detail to retrieve this possible evidence. It has been a very difficult- and sadly busy- two weeks for them in trying to maintain peace and obtain justice in the community.

On June 21, 2009, nine people were killed in the worst subway accident in Washington DC's Metropolitan Area Transit Authority history. This memorial to the Metro crash victims endures in the 5800 Block of New Hampshire Avenue NE, Washington, DC. It is on a bridge crossing the Metro tracks near the fatal crash site.

Killed that day were the driver of the train, Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, Virginia; Retired Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr., former commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, and his wife, Ann, both 62; Mary Doolittle, 59; Lavanda King, 23; Veronica Dubose, 26; Cameron Williams, 36; and Dennis Hawkins, 64, all of Washington; and Ana Fernandez, 40, of Hyattsville, Maryland.

Most prominently visible on the remaining shrine are mementos for Ms. Dubose, Ms. McMillan, and Ms. King.

An official brass plaque was installed in all their memories at a nearby station stop.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

From a DC police report:On Sunday, January 2, 2011, at approximately 1:30 pm, units from the Fourth District responded to the 4500 block of New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival on the scene, they located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both subjects were transported to a local hospital where one of the victims succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The decedent is identified as Bryant Morillo, 16, of Hyattsville, MD.

I spoke with two people at the site, a bus stop in a generally quiet part of the city. One, on older man named Arthur, built the shrine; the other, Sharon, had watched as her daughter ran to the scene of the shooting and attempt to give CPR. She told me that the other person shot was Bryant Morillo's cousin. Sharon said seven shots were fired that night.

From a PG police report: On January 4, 2011 at approximately 11:43 p.m., Prince George’s County Police officers responded to the 4000 block of Norcross Street in Hillcrest Heights Maryland, for a report of a shooting. When patrol officers arrived, they discovered Michael DeAngelo Layne, 19, of Temple Hills, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

I have been contacted by Mr. Layne's mother, who informed me that her son "was not transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound.He was grazed in the chest by a bullet that did not puncture or enter his body and he had a heart attack."

According to the police report, another 21 year-old male was transported to a local hospital and is listed in critical condition. A second 21 year-old and an 18 year-old were also transported for non-life threatening injuries. They were transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The investigation is still ongoing while detectives continue to search for a suspect(s) and establish a motive.

There has been a terrible streak of slaughter occurring in PG County of late. This is the only shrine I have encountered there this winter.

I wish Mr. Layne's mother, and his entire family, every strength, healing, peace, and uplifting memories of their loved one.

I encountered this crime scene tape in an alley behind the 700 block of Brandywine Street SE.From a DC police report: On Tuesday, December 21, 2010, at approximately 9:00 pm, units from the Seventh District responded to the 700 block of Brandywine Street SE, Washington DC, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located a victim, James Pone, 30, of SE, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS the victim to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

From the Washington Post and police reports:Duffie Claridy, 71, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, was found by authorities on the 2900 block of South Capitol Street SW, Washington DC, at about 1 am on November 8, 2010. He had been fatally struck by a car that did not stop at the traffic crash site. Police have charged Michael Glover with negligent homicide in the pedestrian accident death.

"He was a loving person," his daughter Sylvia Claridy said of her father, adding, "He loved his kids and his grandkids." Duffie Claridy had a "huge family," including brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.She said he had retired a few years ago from 35 years of work at the Westchester apartments in Northwest. He frequently took walks, and when he did not come back in a fixed time, family members went to look for him.The place where he was found Monday morning is about half a dozen miles from his home, and he did not usually go that far, his daughter said, speculating that someone might have given him a ride.

An eyewitness to the accident aided police in the arrest of Mr. Glover for negligent homicide.